 | Judas Iscariot |  |
ACT II.
SCENE I.
A Marble Court in the Palace of Pontius Pilate.Nicodemus standing at the foot of a colossal Statue of Jupiter.
Nico.
Thou art of mighty structure, grand of brow,
And capable to smite into the dust
Thine own idolaters; but all unlike
The Father of mankind—the loving Spirit
Whom Jesus hath declared the one true God,
Above all terrible divinities.
His words are as the seed of many thoughts
That will spring up when he is in the tomb.
Enter Claudia, with disordered robes.
What fearful tidings bring'st thou?—must he die?
Clau.
Is he condemned?—how goes it in the hall?
Oh Nicodemus, I have had a dream!
Nico.
What hast thou dreamed?
Clau.
Of pious martyrdom—
Ruin of empires—down-fall of the gods.
It was at daybreak. Every moment since
What I then suffered has surrounded me
With equal terrors.
Nico.
Tell me this thy dream.
Clau.
Methought I sate upon an iron throne,
And I was “Rome”—the Queen of all the world.
Statues upheld my seat; in front was Mars
Shining like blood, and Plutus golden-winged
And blind, as usual with the god. Behind
And yet I felt them softly beat and stir
With fearful life, beneath my heaving seat.
The throne was on a basement, broad and high,
Of silver molten, like a rolling sea
When the sun glares athwart the streaming wind.
Beneath me, in a vast unbroken crowd,
The generations of the earth were kneeling;
And like great corn-fields bowing down their heads,
In wavy masses far away they spread,
Faint in the distance, mingling with the sky.
Nico.
This is some revelation.
Clau.
Presently
A long-robed figure with a veiled head,
Before me passed; a shepherd's crook he bore
In his right hand, and at his side was slung
An earthen water-vessel. 'Neath his veil
I saw he wore a garland round his head.
In his left hand a book lay open wide,
Wherefrom he read aloud:—“This is the book
Which the Erythræan Sibyl sold to Tarquin.
And here 'tis written, ‘Woe to thee, O Rome,
Thou art a murderess!—also woe to thee,
Murderous Jerusalem!’” The augur's book
Closed with a clap of thunder. He was gone.
Nico.
Because they murder Jesus! Saw'st thou more?
Clau.
The great field of the people now displayed
Ridges of shade and light, in contest fierce;
Then in the midst rose Jupiter, as here
Thou see'st our nation's god; but more stupendous
An hundred fold; and o'er the crowds he moved,
Taking no note of those he crushed. While yet
I gazed and trembled, transformations strange
Were wrought, and from his mouth a dreadful sword
Sting-like was darted forth, and from his hands
Were scattered deadly plagues.
Nico.
What dream is this!
Now thunder came, which was his voice, and spake
Words that I understood not, but my throne
Shook from behind, and then I knew the forms
Supporting it, were Furies, Fates, and Hours!
Meanwhile the myriads kneeling all below,
Sent up a cry,—for, lightnings that had played
Round the god's head, had fallen, and the flames
Were eating wide gaps through the living fields.
Nico.
Daughter, what manner of interpretation
Would'st thou—
Clau.
Hear more. The burning multitudes
Held on their cry, until it brought an earthquake—
Became articulate—and it was “Christ!”
Down through the earthquake's jaws sank Jupiter,
And with him the Plague-scatterer and the Sword.
“Christ!” cried the sufferers—and lo! Christ came,
Moving along the field—and all was still.
Where lightnings played was now a smiling sky.
Nico.
And Christ?
Clau.
Was Jesus—he whom they prepare
E'en now to martyr—Jesus the Nazarene!
Nico.
Knoweth thy lord that thou hast had this dream?
Clau.
No; he was risen ere day-break. I will send
A messenger into the Judgment Hall,
To warn him that he touch not this just man.
Nico.
I prythee haste!
[Exeunt.
Enter Judas, who gazes after them. He then seats himself on a pediment opposite the statue.
Judas.
A dream! They spake of sending
To Pilate, seated in the Judgment Hall,
To warn him. Aye, I knew it would be so.
They spake in terror. In a little while
Pilate will come down from his judgment throne,
And kneel at Jesus' feet to sue forgiveness.
1st Law.
I witnessed the whole, for I was curious therein,
having heard marvellous things of Jesus, and of his
public speaking.
2nd Law.
Tell me what thou knowest. I am but newly
come to Jerusalem, in company with the Counsellor
of Arimathea, who beareth a great love towards
Jesus.
1st Law.
When that the centurions and their spearmen
had girded up their loins, and called upon their
gods for help, so that they were able to lay hands
upon Jesus, they took him straightway to Annas,
the father-in-law of Caiaphas, and second in authority
to him in the temple. But when Annas saw
whom they had brought, he was afraid, and knew
not what to do. And Jesus bade him take courage,
that he should do what the law directed. But
Annas turned away, telling them to take Jesus to
Caiaphas, for it was fit that he should go before
the High Priest. So they took Jesus before
Caiaphas.
2nd Law.
What said the High Priest unto him?
1st Law.
Caiaphas adjured him by the living God that he
should say if he were the Christ, the chosen of the
Lord. And Jesus answered that he was the Christ,
and that hereafter he should be seen sitting at the
right hand of God. Then Caiaphas rent his robes;
and the splendour of his vestments spared he not at
all,—crying aloud, “He hath spoken blasphemy—
what need of further witnesses—ye have heard him
—what should be his sentence?” Then the priests,
and scribes, and elders of the Sanhedrim, all answered
with loud voices, “He is guilty of death!”
(Judas folds his arms.)
2nd Law.
But how came he hither to be judged in yonder
hall where Pilate now sits?
1st Law.
After several of the servants, and others that
were there, had smitten Jesus and scoffed at him,
and spat upon him, the priests and scribes sent him
to remain amidst the soldiers who sat around the
peradventure they wrought him bodily pain and
injury for their sport.
Judas.
The fiery ending of their sport will be the beginning
of my gladness.
1st Law.
What saith he?
2nd Law.
Somewhat in hatred of the soldiers. Knowest
thou aught else?
1st Law.
This morning Caiaphas sent Jesus unto Pilate
to be condemned to some manner of death. But
Pilate said, “Nay—take him, and judge him yourselves
by your law.” They answered and said,
“We cannot put any one to death, as thou knowest.
He must die by the Roman law.” Then Pilate
said to Jesus, “Art thou the King of the Jews?”
And Jesus answered and said, “My kingdom is not
of this world. If my kingdom were of this world,
then would my servants fight, that I should not be
delivered to the Jews.”
Judas.
(Aside.)
Said he that his servants would fight if
his kingdom were of this world? What need that
his servants should rise up to fight when thousands
of Archangels will descend from heaven at his bidding!
Yea—this world also is his kingdom.
2nd Law.
Therefore Pilate would not condemn him?
1st Law.
Thou sayest well; and he sent him to Herod that
the King might judge him. Now Herod had a great
wish to see Jesus, who had wrought so many marvels;
and he looked that some miracles or wonders
would be wrought in his presence. But Jesus held
his peace, and he lifted not his hand to do any
wonder. So Herod and his men of war scoffed at
Jesus, and sent him back to Pilate.
Judas.
(Half aside.)
The miracles you ask will come
anon, but not in such sort as ye desire.
(Shouts outside the walls;—“Away with him!” “Away with him!”)
Enter an Elder.
2nd Law.
Why do the people shout?
Pilate hath again been forth to them, saying that
he findeth no fault with Jesus.
Judas.
(Aloud.)
He beareth in mind the warning of his
wife, and lo, he is wisely terrified with that which
God revealed to her in a dream.
2nd Law.
All this is very marvellous.
1st Law.
But it is also natural.
Judas.
More—more.
Elder.
(To Judas.)
Hold thy peace, lest evil befal thee
for thy speech.
Enter Three Priests.
1st Priest.
Let them shut the windows of the Judgment
Hall; we shall hear nothing worth.
Elder.
Stood ye near enough outside the windows to hear
all that was said, and yet to avoid being defiled?
2nd Priest.
Yes; but Jesus spake not.
1st Law.
I marvel that he uttered not his nicest oratory
with a subtle tongue.
2nd Priest.
He held his peace, or only spake with insolent
and contumacious fewness of words.
Judas.
Presently he shall speak that which ye expected
not to hear.
1st Law.
Let us go to the outside beneath the open
windows.
[Exeunt Two Lawyers.
2nd Priest.
Wherefore should Pilate hesitate to condemn
him to death, and wherefore came he out twice unto
us with vain words?
Judas.
Other words are coming that shall dry up your
ears, as the things that shall follow will sting
through your sight.
1st Priest.
Who is this fellow that sitteth on one side,
and threateneth with a forked tongue, like a viper
in the shade?
3rd Priest.
I saw a scourge in the hands of a soldier in
the hall, and he was exercising his arm in the air.
(Shouts outside.)
Elder.
Behold, Pilate hath a third time gone forth to the
people!
Pilate is sorely troubled. The hour!—the hour!
(Shouts and curses outside. Cries of “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
(The Three Priests and the Elder join in the shout: “Crucify him! Crucify him!”)
Judas.
Ha! ha! ye vultures, ye ravens—bloody wolves
that have no sense of coming things!
3rd Priest.
Have a care; for thou art well known.
Judas.
(Rising up and lifting his arms in the air.)
In a
little while we shall all be known—yea, by the
purification of fire, and the changes of thrones and
high seats! Our Lord, Christ, hath two kingdoms,
one in heaven, and one upon earth,—though of this
last he maketh no boast. But he holdeth it in the
hollow of his hand; and now he will grasp it fast,
and deal with it as he listeth.
(Sounds of measured blows, proceeding from within the Hall of Judgment.)
3rd Priest.
Thou fool! hearest thou the blows of the
scourge in the Hall, and sayest thou that Jesus
holdeth the earth in his hand?
Judas.
The scourge!—
1st Priest.
Let him take the rods out of the hand that
smiteth him; that were power enough for his present
need.
(Measured sounds from the Hall continuing. Judas slowly re-seats himself.)
Enter Scribe and Two Pharisees.
Sc. & Ph.
Hail Masters, it is accomplished!
3rd Priest.
He is condemned unto death?
Sc. & Ph.
To be crucified!
Scribe.
Such is his sentence.
1st Phar.
Pilate came forth and washed his hands before
us, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just
person—see ye to it.”
3rd Priest.
Called he this criminal a just person!
1st Priest.
Whereupon all the people cried with a loud
voice “His blood be on us, and on our children.”
(Measured sounds from the Hall, continued.
And forthwith began the scourging that ye hear.
We beheld the blood following the blows, and by
this time the chastisement that precedeth his death
hath driven the red stream down to his feet, and
beneath the feet of those who stand around.
Judas.
(Rising and hurrying into the midst.)
Seemed it
indeed that there was real blood—the blood of Jesus
that flowed beneath their feet?
(All shout in derision.)
1st Priest.
Think'st thou it was water or wine that
issued from his loins!
Judas.
(Stamping upon the pavement.)
It was not blood!
no blood have ye seen—neither shall Christ be
crucified! What is your sentence but a wind, and
your condemnation but an echo of the voice of
waters! Verily, nothing of all this shall come to
pass, but something else more terrible than the
tongue of man can speak, shall burst upon you!
The Great Temple of Jesus, who is Christ and
King, shall rise before you, as though the sun rose
up glaring through the earth, even as it is wont to
rise from the sea.
(All shout in derision.)
Scribe.
(To the Priests and Pharisees.)
The people have
cried aloud that he should be crucified, and this
is his sentence; but let us take counsel awhile
among ourselves whether some other death be not
better suited.
2nd Phar.
What better can we devise?
Judas.
(Abstractedly.)
Dominion! dominion!—where is it?
Scribe.
Of strangling and stoning care I not to speak,
neither of drowning with a weight about the neck;
but of the sawing asunder let us take note, even as
was the custom in the old time before us.
1st Priest.
Not so; because the Prophet Isaiah died by
that death, and because the idolater Manasseh
ordered it.
2nd Phar.
Were it good that he were given to wild beasts?
Judas.
(With anguish.)
He is—he is!
Not so; because the Prophet Daniel was cast
into the den of lions.
Scribe.
But coming out whole and untouched, while
Jesus would be rent in pieces, this might be regarded
as a fitting expiation.
2nd Phar.
Choose we rather the braying in the mortar,
which is a goodly punishment.
3rd Priest.
I have bethought me in the night that we
should burn him with slow fire, first sealing up his
eyes, while his ears were filled with strange sounds
as the heat of the furnace began to rise. This
were lawful.
(Tumult outside.)
Scribe.
Behold, what manner of King is he who slowly
passeth along from the Hall! His crown is a
mockery of bloody thorns. Seest thou, Judas,
yonder King with his crown!
[Judas rushes out, rending his garments and his beard.
1st Priest.
Let Jesus be crucified; there is no other death
so vile as this.
All.
Crucify him! Crucify him!
[Exeunt Omnes.
(A crowd of Roman Military and Civil Officers, in merry conversation, pass across, and Exeunt.
Enter Pontius Pilate and Claudia.
Clau.
Wherefore I pray my lord to use his power,
Even to the utmost, listening to the voice
Of heaven's high oracles, as in my dream
Revealed; the voice of justice, which thou know'st
Crieth aloud for him—ah, louder far
Than all the curses of the yelling Jews;
The voice of natural feeling in your heart,
Which saith ‘be merciful;’ and last of all
The voice of her who once within your eyes
Was passing fair—your humble, loving wife.
Pilate.
Claudia.
I do intreat—my lord—
Pilate.
Be patient.
Claud.
I would be so—I ever after will—
But patience now is certain death to him.
Pilate.
He teacheth patience.
Claud.
But not hardness of heart.
Thou art not all so hard as thou appear'st,
And men believe; the judgment throne is hard,
Therefore thy bearing doth assort with it
Of need,—an evil of authority,
Not to be gainsayed nor avoided—
Pilate.
Wife,
Be calm—and silent. He hath sought his death.
Claud.
Not so—not sought it—soldiers—
Pilate.
Claudia!
It is enough. Three times did I go forth
Unto the furious Jews, opening all chances
For his release—whether by change of mind
In the multitude—by fear, love, fickleness—
Such as the memory of his miracles,
His marvellous cures, preaching, and fortitude,—
And something in his presence that betokened
One of a spirit beyond martyrdom—
Might well have bred. Also I gave him time
That he should well bethink himself, and use
His wondrous gift of speech. But he was mute—
Or when not mute, he exercised no power
Of inspiration—wrought no miracle—
Nor prophesied. For these things men had looked,
Excitedly,—the which I waited for,
To turn to his account.
Enter Judas behind.
Claud.
And not one word
Spake he—
Nor gave one look—nor made one sign
To save himself—nor manifested wish
That I should save him. Wherefore I conclude
It was his purpose, and his will to die.
Claud.
Woe to thee, Rome! thou art a murderess!
Woe to Jerusalem—a murderess also!
Thus spake the augur in my dream.
Pilate.
His blood
Is not on me—I have washed my hands; and did so
Before the people, as a last resource
To make them pause. The bearded Hebrews howled,
‘His blood be upon us—and on our children.’
So be it! I did all I could, with safety,—
And somewhat more than prudent, in my place,
Not safe from all corruption, nor men's tongues.
Therefore be thoughtful. Speak of this no more.
[Exeunt Pilate and Claudia.
(Judas slowly clasps and raises his hands.)
Judas.
Now Darkness, build a Temple o'er my soul,
And let a torrent roll around the base
To drown the stars! Let the high priest be Death,
And on the altar place the accursed form
Of Judas, ever dying, yet alive
To constant sacrifice—while tongues of fire
Follow the knife's course, shrieking out his sin
Through every running vein! Come, monstrous Hell,
And be a friend to Judas!—from earth's eye,
Swallow him up—and from the eye of heaven.
(Sinks down with his face in the dust.)
(Scene closes.)
SCENE II.
Interior of the Temple of Jerusalem. Outer Courts and Eastern Gate visible, with the Mount of Olives in the distance.Enter Caiaphas, Annas, and an Elder.
Elder.
I was among the crowd, and near unto the officers
and soldiers, noting all things even as ye had
desired me, but taking no active part therein.
And I say again, thus did the soldiers.
Annas.
Stepped they backward many paces?
Elder.
They retired from before Jesus, and fell down
upon the earth, as if they had suddenly beheld the
glory of a great light.
Caia.
Thou speakest as if he had wrought upon their
spirits; but have we not proof that his followers
were armed, and did battle for him. Verily, my
servant Malchus had been cleft in twain, but that
the sword of his assailant glanced aside in his fury.
Elder.
He that smote him, Jesus reproved.
Annas.
Then came the soldiers once more to seize him,
and sayest thou he offered no resistance?
Elder.
They were troubled at the sight of him; but he
gave himself up to be bound. Had he raised his
hand, or prophesied, so would they all again have
fallen to the earth. But he gave himself peacefully
into their charge.
Caia.
How knowest thou what more the soldiers had done
if he had resisted them? Shall men of good
estate be permitted to speak with a foolish tongue?
It hath been told me that certain pharisees sent to
Jesus, ere this, to warn him that he should escape!
Shall the disease spread so deep and climb so high,
and the heavens put on no blackness? Howbeit
he is now secured, and condemned to death,
and an end hath come to all his blasphemies, and
to the evil he hath sent abroad into men's spirits.
In good season hath it all ended.
Caia.
Therefore have we devised the extremity of all disgrace
to attend upon the manner of his death; by
crucifixion and by the companionship of thieves, so
that no disciples shall go forth in future without
fear of stoning, and no man utter the name of Jesus
without shame and scorn.
Annas.
Who is he that cometh yonder up the steps of
the court, profaning the Temple?
Elder.
Peradventure one of the artificers or labourers, who
work in the outer buildings.
Annas.
A bibber of wine!—for, see how he rusheth and
reeleth forward! His presence here is death by
the law!
Elder.
Hath he fallen upon the lowermost steps, that ye
see him not again?
Annas.
His head riseth above the upper pavement!
Caia.
Wherefore cometh he? Hath he also a sword?
Annas.
He hath not put off his shoes!
Elder.
Behold, his garments are rent!—he hath a ragged
tawny beard—his eyes are red with blood—and his
mouth is wide open, that uttereth no sound!
Enter Judas wildly.
Caia.
Whom seekest thou? Darest thou affront the High
Priest!
Annas.
Knowest thou the man?
Caia.
I know him. This is he who betrayed Jesus to
justice for thirty pieces of silver.
Elder.
Speak, profaner of the Temple!
Judas.
I have sinned!—I have betrayed innocent blood!
Caia.
What is that to us? See thou to that!
(Judas staggers on one side towards the altar.)
Elder.
His eyes glare—the foam gusheth through his
teeth!
Caia.
Behold what he doeth! Behold, he graspeth the
golden horns of the altar!
Elder.
He hath a horror that riseth up amidst his hair:—
wrath and madness are bursting out of his mouth!
Give him more pieces—give him pieces of gold,
and let him go his ways!
Caia.
He thrusteth one hand into his breast to tear out
his heart! See that he pollute not the Temple!—
have a care of God's holy place, and of God's
anointed ministers!
Annas.
He hath a demon!
[Judas dashes a handful of silver pieces upon the pavement, and rushes away out of sight.
(Scene closes.)
SCENE III.
The field of Aceldama, flanked by a wood. Mount Calvary in the distance. Time, evening.Enter John, James, and Peter with his face hidden in his hands.
John.
Take comfort; for our Lord hath often said
The truth that rests at bottom of the heart,
By that shall ye be judged; let it come forth
In act, and then 'tis virtue.
Peter.
How did truth
Come forth in me?
John.
'Twas but an accident
Of half thy nature; but when thou didst draw
Thy sword, then spake thy heart;—and deeper spake
When at his bidding thou didst sheath the blade.
Come on with us.
James.
Come, see our Master die,
The loss of earthly hopes for the truth's sake,
We may receive.
Peter.
And also how to give
Our life in martyrdom for his dear name.
John.
Come, Peter!—brother, come!
Peter.
I am unworthy.
[Exit Peter.
John.
Our Lord is on his way. Hear you the noise
Of the distant multitude?
James.
Where shall we stand?
John.
Beside his lofty Cross, until it tremble
With his last anguish—and his victory.
[Exeunt.
Enter a crowd of Jewish people; men, women and children; with a number of Roman soldiers mingling among them.
(Many Jewish voices cry aloud,—
“Crucify him! crucify him!
“His blood be on us, and on our children!” [Exeunt.
Enter Judas, with a handful of earth clutched in his fingers.
Judas.
If he, being Son of God, consent to die,
Seeming to prove the truth of all their taunts;—
If, with the power he hath to smite this city—
The temple, tabernacle, all the hosts
And men of valour—pharisees, scribes, priests—
He will not speak—he will not lift his hand;—
If truly, God in him, can with a thought
Bring earthquake underneath Jerusalem,
To swallow all, save his own chosen flock,
Yet he consent meekly to be nailed down
Upon a felon's Cross, which they have sworn
To plant on yonder mount between two thieves,
The drooping head, the languishing swoll'n limbs—
He—our Lord Jesus—whom I have betrayed,
Dying this death—O God, the Eternal Eye!
Scorch up this reasoning—blight each maddening sense—
Confuse my life with any creeping thing,
So that I know it not—make me a stone,
Wherefrom no iron-heel shall strike one spark—
Make me a darkness!—let me melt to rain,
And steal beneath the earth! I hear them coming!
(Judas drops on his knees.)
Seest thou, Jehovah, him thou fashionedst
With strength and order, what he hath become?
A wild and hideous perplexity,
That hideth from himself! Oh pass him by,
E'en as this clot of earth, which he scraped up
To look for death, and leave this upper hell—
And in especial save him from this night—
See him not—know him not—nor ask for him.
(Rising in terror.)
Where is the man called Judas?—where is he?
Thunder is in my brain—the clouds are silent.
No where, Lord!—no where—Judas is no more!
(Voices of a distant crowd.)
Enter Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea.
Nico.
This is the man, Judas Iscariot!
See where he lurketh underneath the trees!
Joseph.
Let not our eyes behold him, lest we dream
Of monstrous things that breed unholy thoughts,
And loss of faith in nature. Hast thou seen
The place I have selected for the tomb
Of Jesus?
Nico.
I have seen it.
No! no! no!
He is not dead—he is the Son of God,
And cannot die!—why speak ye of the tomb!
Unless it be for Judas?
Joseph.
Thither we
Will bear his sacred body, and our hearts
Shall dwell with him in that cold sepulchre
Where glory seeketh rest within the shade.
Nico.
Aloes, and myrrh, and spices will I bring,
And swathes of finest linen.
Joseph.
We must sue
To Pilate first, that he should render us
The body.
(Judas smites his forehead with his earthy hand.)
Nico.
He will grant this, if all's done
With secrecy.
Joseph.
Lord Jesus, we attend thee!
[Exeunt Joseph and Nicodemus.
Judas.
The body, said they!—how the field whirls round!
A pharisee and a lawyer bury Christ!
Bury him!—bury the Son of God!
And now—
The women come! It is the Mother of Christ
That walketh foremost with a steadfast eye,
Red with her sleepless anguish, but no tear.
Her thoughts are heavenward—where shall I crouch down?—
I still must stare upon her!
Enter Mary (the Mother of Christ) and her Sister; Mary Magdalene, and Mary the wife of Cleophas.
M. Mag.
Twice he sank
Beneath the weight—I saw him through the crowd.
His pale, long-suffering face look'd up to God,
And smiled.
Then from his shoulders, newly scourged,
Took they the cross, seeing he could not walk,
For very faintness under blows and wounds.
M. Magd.
Not pitying, but cursing—shall I speak
Of curses, and not use them?
(She points towards Judas.)
M. Sister.
'Tis the shadow
Of a tree-trunk.
M. Magd.
Behind it croucheth close
A wild beast, gnashing in his impotence,
Or in remorse, as vain. There is no hope
That Judas shall find pardon on the earth,
Nor in the grave. Earth with its myriad snakes,
Hisseth against him, and the grave will utter
A shriek at his approach! Nothing remains
For him but constant horror, and himself.
Mother.
Do not disturb the greatness of the hour.
M. Sister.
Jesus approacheth. Let us follow him,
And take our places upon Calvary.
[Exeunt, all but Judas.
Judas.
One saith, behold a monster! another saith,
Lo! a wild beast!
(Sounds of an approaching crowd. Judas clasps his arms round a tree, and tears the bark with his teeth.)
Enter Lazarus, solemnly.
Laza.
Cold with the shadows of the grave upon me,
And dusky in my body and my mind,
I yet do walk abroad with higher sense
Of life;—and round about me wonders float—
Gleamings and whispers—and before my path
God's finger sometimes writeth in the sand.
Judas.
(in an audible whisper).
Thou art one risen from the dead!—Oh tell me,
If the dead recollect their deeds on earth?
Somebody speaketh.
Judas.
Come no nearer to him.—
Thou saidst God's finger wrote upon the sand,
What did it write?—Judas Iscariot?
Laza.
Doth thy crime fill thy mind to such a pass,
Thou think'st God writeth of it?
Judas.
Verily.
Laza.
Then I will pray for thee.
Judas.
Oh terrible!
(Judas sinks behind the tree, as Lazarus raises his hands.)
Laza.
Jehovah!—Spirit of all life we know—
All life unknown—whether in earth or star,
Or in the region men call death—Great Father
Of the Divine One who is on his way
To die upon a cross between two thieves—
Let him, who seemeth awful to himself,
Because he hath approached thy shadow nearer
Than other men—and hath thereby a sense
Of somewhat more profoundly spiritual
Thrilling on all sides—offer up a prayer,
Asking for mercy and a gentle death,
In Christ's pure name, which halloweth all words;—
(Tumult near at hand.)
Judas.
—Quick! quick! I hear them.
(A Concourse pass along the back of the field, with a large Cross borne in the midst of them. They ascend Calvary in the evening twilight.)
Laza.
Pardon me, O Christ,
That I, bewildered with my double life—
My hope and joy, each deep as is the grave,
And melancholy by profundity—
Have strayed from thy dear side at this great hour
Of agony and triumph! Lo, I follow.
[Exit Lazarus.
The prayer! the prayer for me, O Lazarus!
The prayer's unfinished, and he's gone! Will no one
Haste after him—or fall at Jesus' feet
And tell the history of my matchless sin,
And that I never thought of death to him—
Never believed in it—I dreamed of nothing
But power's surpassing glory. Give me strength
Ye fibrous trees—thou teeming earth—thou sky,
With all thy mighty shades, that I may leave
This hideousness, and follow him. On! on!
My limbs are cramped—my mouth is full of dust,
Mine eyes spin webs of fire—Oh mercy, Christ!
Mercy! for thou canst hear me from afar—
Hear me scream “Mercy!”
(Distant sounds of the heavy blows of a hammer on Calvary.)
Golgotha replies!
And all the echoes round Mount Calvary!
Can it be! Yes!—they nail him through the hands.
I see the springing blood—it stains the vests
Of those who murder him! He prayeth for them—
Forgiveth them!—me, too, Lord! I have ever
Loved thee—but I grew mad—and now I wake!
How pale he lies!—how patient! Cover me
Ye bloody trees!—ye flapping shadows snatch me
Away into your caverns! Lazarus!
Come back!—will no one hear me!
(Heavy blows of a hammer echo from Calvary.)
Through his feet
The great nail slowly crushes!—pierces down
Into the wood! Oh Pilate, once again—
'Tis not too late—come forth unto the people—
Command all this to cease—this mockery
Tow'rds one who cannot die—and yet he will!
The Son of God will die! Scribes, pharisees!
Thrice cursed of God, come here! come here!
And see your work! Your work and mine!
I meant it not—I never dreamed of this—
Witness ye glaring creatures that whirl round me!
Witness my soul—witness before my God,
For even I, name God,—I must—I must—
And He will be the wise Judge! See your work,
Ye priests and rulers. Oh, I know my share.
Hark! hark!—They raise the Cross!
They bear it to its bed—they drop its foot
Heavily down!—The jar shakes all his frame
With tortures—sickening! Where is Death for me?
Come wrestler—come! take Judas in thine arms,
And win, dark ideot—so shall Judas gain
A hiding place!
(Judas tears out some long trailing thorns and green tendrils, and twisting them about his throat, rushes to a tree, which he ascends. Darkness spreads over the face of the earth.)
Judas.
(From the midst of the tree.)
Mother of all the graves,
Open them all for Judas!
Bid him, O, Mother of Corruption, seek
The lowest, and the darkest! Christ have mercy,
And let him find it! Plunge for ever down!
(Judas springs downwards—the tree falls with a crash, and covers his crushed body with its black foliage. The earth trembles. Graves open,—and pale Forms rise, and gaze around!)
| Judas Iscariot | |